Bill would strip corrupt pols of benefits

Monday, August 04, 2008

TRENTON - A Republican state lawmaker who thinks that elected officials should be held to a higher standard is calling for tougher penalties for politicians convicted of crimes.

Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, wants legislative leaders to pass a bill that would automatically strip politicians who are convicted of public corruption of their retirement benefits. The law would apply no matter when the crimes were committed.

"The Legislature must create a disincentive in order to discourage that small minority who view public service as a business opportunity," said Beck, a first-term senator.

Republicans reacted strongly to last week's sentencing of former Newark mayor and state sen. Sharpe James, who received a 27-month term for his role in the cut-rate sale of city land to his former mistress, Tamika Riley of Jersey City.

U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie said he would seek the permission of the U.S. Justice Department to appeal the sentence. Federal prosecutors were seeking up to 20 years for James.

James, 72, was mayor of Newark from 1986 to 2006. He was also a Democratic state senator from 1999 to January 2008.

As a result of his conviction, James could be stripped of pensions that provide a six-figure annual income. State Treasury spokesman Tom Bell said "honorable service" reviews can start now that sentencing has occurred.

"Violating the public trust should be more costly for politicians," said Sen. Kevin O'Toole, R-Bergen. "Any theft is wrong, but stealing from the taxpayers of an economically disadvantaged city like Newark qualified as a particularly heinous act of thievery."

Under current rules governing retirement from the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), benefits can be reduced or forfeited if the beneficiary is convicted of a crime related to their employment, Bell said.

The PERS board has slashed the benefits of several veteran public servants who tried to collect their pensions after being convicted of public corruption, including former Sen. President John Lynch.

A law that went into effect in April 2007 makes it impossible for a government employee to collect any pension benefits after a corruption conviction or guilty plea. That law makes pension forfeitures automatic and prison time mandatory for government employees - including politicians - who accept bribes, launder money or commit related felonies.